Mumbai, June 29 -- The headline equity benchmarks ended with modest losses on Monday, snapping a two-day winning streak, as investor sentiment remained cautious following the escalation of tensions between Iran and the US over the weekend. The sell-off was further exacerbated by a moderate rise in crude oil prices, raising concerns over inflationary pressures and their potential impact on the global economy. Going forward, investors will closely track movements in crude oil and gold prices, along with the progress of the monsoon, for further cues on market direction.

The Nifty settled below the 23,950 mark. Auto, media, and IT stocks declined, while pharma, healthcare, and metal shares advanced.

As per provisional closing data, the baro...